May 8, 2018 Edition
Meet Our "Deacon in Training"


Greetings!
My name is Andrew Lacovara and I am entering my final year of formation to become a deacon for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. My wife, Avendui, and I are members of Corpus Christi in Bolton Hill. Our two sons are in college and often attended the 6:00 PM Mass here at St. Ignatius (Last gasp!]

I have worked for a structural engineering firm for the last two decades or so, where I spent much of my time doing commercial diving work for the underwater inspections of bridges, dams, and marine structures.

I am pleased that the formation team granted my request to be placed at St. Ignatius for my year-long parish assignment. Deacon Weber and Fr. Casciotti are mentoring me. They and so many of you have already welcomed me into the community.

Prior to this year, I spent my institutional assignment working with the chaplain staff at Mercy Medical Center. Before that, I spent several years working in prison ministry, with men and woman in federal pre-trial detention.

The formation process for the deaconate in Archdiocese is a lengthy one, typically taking four years, focusing on personal, intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral development.

Those called to the diaconate, like all the faithful, are called to a ministry of service. As is articulated in the ordination rite for deacons, such a ministry is fundamentally based on the imitation of Jesus, “who came not to be served, but to serve.” I look forward to worshipping with you, sharing in the ministries of the parish, and learning from you how to be a deacon! 
How it works in the Catholic Church
From The United States Conference of Bishops

Who is a Deacon?

A deacon is an ordained minister of the Catholic Church. There are three groups, or "orders," of ordained ministers in the Church: bishops, presbyters and deacons. Deacons are ordained as a sacramental sign to the Church and to the world of Christ, who came "to serve and not to be served." The entire Church is called by Christ to serve, and the deacon, in virtue of his sacramental ordination and through his various ministries, is to be a servant in a servant-Church.

What are these "various ministries" of the Deacon?

All ordained ministers in the Church are called to functions of Word, Sacrament, and Charity, but bishops, presbyters and deacons exercise these functions in various ways. As ministers of Word, deacons proclaim the Gospel, preach, and teach in the name of the Church. As ministers of Sacrament, deacons baptize, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and funeral services As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs of others, then marshaling the Church's resources to meet those needs. READ MORE

On Mother's Day
A Letter To Moms For Whom Mother’s Day Is Hard

BY SELENA MILLS

Hey mom over there… I see you, I feel you, trying to be cheerful — not wanting to be a Debbie Downer on Mother’s Day. But it’s hard, yea? This letter is for you, my fellow mama who tries to brush aside pangs of pain and the memories that rise with each e-mail sale notification, storefront flyer and social feed inundated with love and celebration.

I see you, watching as what seems to be most of the collective world celebrates the women who raised and/or birthed us. We watch them, young and old, as they call their mothers, send them flowers, drink mimosas together, bring home paper bags of crafts beaming with pride. And, if we’re moms ourselves for whom Mother’s Day is complicated, there is solace we find in the pleasure of celebrating motherhood with our own children. READ MORE

Sunday is not only Mother's Day...it's the Feast of the Ascension

What the Feast of the Ascension teaches us about time


by Terrance Klein

Let’s admit that the angelic question is barbed. It is not so much a question as a veiled command: Let’s get on with it.

Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? (Acts 1:11)

The Jesus whom they have known is gone. Try as they might, they cannot bring him back, not that Jesus. They will never again hear him preach, never again eat with him, never again walk with him on the roads of Galilee and Judea. First death claimed him; now, the Ascension. Time has moved on, and so must they. READ MORE

A Note From United Workers
Fr. James --

Hope you are well. Excited to share with you the next event in the Fund the Trust 20/20 Campaign organizing because I know how much you care about building a movement to end poverty and racism in our city. 

Thank you for supporting the Fund the Trust Act! With great organizational endorsers, strong popular support and city council leaders willing to partner with residents and communities, the momentum is building! Passage of this historic legislation would contribute $20 million annually to Baltimore neighborhoods hit the hardest by structural racism, segregation and economic inequality.

However, we know that politics is unpredictable. Well financed opposition is already attacking the legislation and we knew a transformational change like this wasn't going to be easy. We can’t counter with campaign contributions or paid advertisements. What we have is people power and we intend to use it.
To ensure that the City directs $20 million annually into the voter created and approved Affordable Housing Trust Fund, we are organizing a grassroots ballot initiative! On May 12th we are launching the Days of Democracy, where hundreds of us will gather signatures and rally voter support.

What: First Day of Democracy -- After a morning training, volunteers will be canvassing dozens of festivals, parks, bus stops and more to gather signatures. For folks who would like to participate but can’t be on their feet for too long, we will be setting up voter registration areas as well.

When:   Saturday, May 12th  from  11AM - 8PM (flexible - if you can't come at  11AM  please let us know when you can join us. We will be training and prepping canvass teams throughout the day) 

Where: St.Vincent De Paul Church:  120 N Front St, Baltimore, MD 21202  


We hope that you and your networks can join us. This will be the first in a series of gatherings -- please let us know if your organization can participate. 

Either at the city council or at the ballot box, we will demand that our communities get the resources we need to Rise, Reclaim, and Rebuild!
For Our Upcoming Angel Mom Baby
Bring Items to Church When You Come to Mass this weekend!

The Parish Gabriel Network Angel Friend team has a new Mom! Grace is a young woman from Burkina Faso in West Africa expecting her first child, a little boy, in July. She lives in South Baltimore with the baby’s father who is also from the West African nation. The family is poor and somewhat isolated. The Angel Friend team has been providing her with maternity clothes, food, referrals for immigrant and social services and help in connecting with others in the community.
 
The Respect For Life Ministry is again appealing to the generosity of the parish in helping her with baby items. For list of requested items and drop-off instructions, click here .
Worship with Offerings, Liturgy and Prayers for Others
POOR BOX 
Each weekend St. Ignatius specifies a Poor Box collection for a needful cause. This week's
support goes to
Gabriel Network’s Angel Mom  

MASS MUSIC   
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass. 
 
PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN REPORT
Weekly updates on Christian persecution around the globe. Keep a prayerful watch on what is
happening with your
brothers and sisters! 


Upcoming Events and Meetings
Iñigo Book Group
Tuesday, May 8, 6:30 PM
Click here for complete information


Justice & Peace Committee
Thursday, May 10, 6:30 PM
Click here for complete information


Young Adult Ministry Happy Hour at the Owl Bar
Monday, May 14, 5:30 PM
Click here for complete information


Interfaith/Ecumenical Committee
Tuesday, May 15, 6:30 PM
Click here for complete information


Women of the New Testament
Tuesday, May 15, 6:45 PM
Click here for complete information


Scriptural Rosary for Justice & Peace
Thursday, May 17, 7 PM
Click here for complete information


Embracing God's Gifts
Tuesday, May 22, 7 PM
Click here for complete information


Green Team
Thursday, May 24, 7 PM
Click here for complete information


Respect for Life
Sunday, May 27, 9:45 AM
Click here for complete information
Young Adult Growth Opportunity
Gaudete et Exsultate Study Group

May 23, 30, & June 6, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Join other young adults in Ignatian Hall to read, study and reflect on Pope Francis’ new apostolic exhortation, “Rejoice and Be Glad: On the call to holiness in the contemporary world.” Participants will read a section of the exhortation prior to each of the three meetings. The first half of each meeting will focus on the study of the text itself and the second half will focus on its application to our lives.  Sign up here  or email me at rachel.a.malinowski@gmail.com  by May 18th.